3rd HBCT Soldiers seize large cache

Photo By Maj. Joseph Sowers | Propellant charges, warheads and rocket-propelled grenade launchers found by Soldiers of the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, Feb. 6, in a cache near Jisr Diyala, Iraq, a town in the Baghad belt east of Baghdad. The cache was the largest cache seized by Soldiers of the 3-1 Cav. Regt. since the unit's deployment to Iraq March 2007.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, IRAQ

02.10.2008

Story by Maj. Joseph Sowers 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

Story by Maj. Joe Sowers, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, currently attached to the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, seized a large cache near Jisr Diyala, Feb. 6.

Soldiers from the 3-1 Cav. Regt. obtained a tip from an Iraqi and Soldiers from Company D moved to identify and secure the munitions.

"The removal of this cache is another step forward for the people of Jisr Diyala and the local government," said Capt. Brian Gilbert, Boise, Idaho, the commander of Company D, 1-15 Inf. Regt.

The cache contained 35 82 mm mortars, 24 60 mm mortars, 14 grenades of various origin, four RPG-7 rockets, 14 warheads, and various other munitions and explosive material. Officers from 3-1 Cav. Regt. determined it was the largest cache the unit has seized since their deployment March 2007.

Gilbert explained civilians normally keep their distance when his Soldiers secure a cache site. When his Soldiers arrived at the supposed cache area, local residents helped point them in the right direction and engaged the Soldiers in conversation throughout the process.

Gilbert further elaborated that he has seen tremendous improvements in the area since his return from leave two weeks ago.

"While I was gone, the Sons of Iraq really spurred the people of Jisr Diyala to provide information on extremist groups and point us towards caches," said Gilbert. "We seized more caches in January than all of October and November combined."

Jisr Diyala residents are now turning towards local government leaders as a result of the improved security situation according to Gilbert.

"The city manager has a whole laundry list of projects that the government of Iraq is handling, and he asked us to push some of our projects to the GoI," said Gilbert.

While he has seen marked improvement, Gilbert feels there is more to be done.

The 3-1 Cav. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning, Ga. and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 2007.

• Date Taken: 02.10.2008
• Date Posted: 02.10.2008 13:50
• Story ID: 16211
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, IQ